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The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport has confirmed the Australian Targa Championship as its latest fully supported national title.

The four round 2012 title will be known as the CAMS Australian Targa Championship.

CAMS president Andrew Papadopoulos said the latest national championship reinforced CAMS long- term commitment to Targa.

“CAMS was there at the birth of Targa when our then president John Large funded and ran the original Targa Tasmania in 1992” Mr Papadopoulos said.

“We provided the statutory and logistic support – and we are proud to do so again.”

Targa Tasmania grew out of tourism considerations. In the 1980s Tasmanian tourism organisations were considering two motorsport propositions – a round of the World Rally Championship and Indycar. Both events came to Australia, but WRC went to Perth and Indycar to the Gold Coast.

John Large then proposed a unique solution – a multi day road rally around Tasmania based on the iconic road races of Europe including the Mille Miglia, the Coupe Des Alpes and the Targa Florio in Sicily.

The European events gave great exposure and character to motorsport and to the regions through which they travelled.

John Large believed so strongly in the concept that he funded the event and called on CAMS to provide support to run it. The first Targa Tasmania attracted almost 200 competitors including Sir Stirling Moss, world champions Sir Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme, and rally ace Roger Clark.

“The CAMS Australia Targa Championship is the level playing field which enables truly amateur enthusiasts to compete with their professional counterparts in an atmosphere of mutual respect,” Mr Papadopoulos said.

The championship will contribute strongly to regional and state economies. “Motorsport in all its facets is a strong multiplier of tourism investment,” he said.

“Targa events travel some of the most beautiful and inspiring roads in the country and bring immense pleasure to all who witness them.”

CAMS new arrangement with Targa promoter Octagon mirrors global activities undertaken by the FIA, the world governing body of motorsport.

The FIA is an active participant in world championships through its ownership of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship and the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The latest is the FIA GT1 World Championship.